AAT vs ESRT vs UE vs CBRE vs KIM

For growth investors, CBRE Group, Inc.

(CBRE) is the stronger pick with 13. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -4. 7% for American Assets Trust, Inc. (AAT). American Assets Trust, Inc. (AAT) offers the better valuation at 22. 9x trailing P/E (45. 9x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate American Assets Trust, Inc. (AAT) a "Buy" — based on 11 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, American Assets Trust, Inc.

(AAT) is the cheapest at 22. 9x versus CBRE Group, Inc. at 38. 1x. On forward P/E, Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. is actually cheaper at 6. 5x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: CBRE Group, Inc. wins at 1. 65x versus American Assets Trust, Inc. 's 3. 09x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.

Over the past 5 years, CBRE Group, Inc.

(CBRE) delivered a total return of +68. 8%, compared to -46. 4% for Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (ESRT). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: CBRE returned +405. 3% versus ESRT's -58. 8%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Urban Edge Properties (UE) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

48β versus CBRE Group, Inc. 's 1. 12β — meaning CBRE is approximately 133% more volatile than UE relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Kimco Realty Corporation (KIM) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 82% versus 156% for American Assets Trust, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), CBRE Group, Inc.

(CBRE) is pulling ahead at 13. 4% versus -4. 7% for American Assets Trust, Inc. (AAT). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Kimco Realty Corporation grew EPS 50. 9% year-over-year, compared to -35. 7% for Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, CBRE leads at 9. 6% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Kimco Realty Corporation (KIM) is the more profitable company, earning 27.

3% net margin versus 2. 9% for CBRE Group, Inc. — meaning it keeps 27. 3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: KIM leads at 35. 2% versus 3. 2% for CBRE. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AAT leads at 61. 1%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, CBRE Group, Inc. (CBRE) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 65x versus American Assets Trust, Inc. 's 3. 09x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (ESRT) trades at 6. 5x forward P/E versus 47. 5x for Urban Edge Properties — 41. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for ESRT: 22. 8% to $6. 90.

In this comparison, AAT (6.

5% yield), KIM (4. 5% yield), UE (3. 4% yield), ESRT (1. 6% yield) pay a dividend. CBRE does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Urban Edge Properties (UE) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

48), 3. 4% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (UE: +6. 1%, CBRE: +405. 3%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Real Estate sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: AAT is a small-cap income-oriented stock; ESRT is a small-cap quality compounder stock; UE is a small-cap income-oriented stock; CBRE is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; KIM is a mid-cap income-oriented stock. AAT, ESRT, UE, KIM pay a dividend while CBRE does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.